Monument device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to an assembly for ornamentation of grave monuments. This assembly is designed to be attached to a memorial vase, that is secured to a cemetery grave marker. This assembly is enabled to provide the bereaved both illuminated and non-illuminated memorials for the deceased.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to monuments. More particularly, thisinvention relates to a device for ornamentation of grave monuments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

More and more, people desire options for remembering their loved onesafter they have passed away, especially when it comes to memorials atthe cemetery. This may be in the form of one member of the deceasedpurchasing the grave marker, a second member of the deceased purchasinga flower vase for the grave marker, a third member of the deceasedpurchasing the artificial flowers for the flower vase for the gravemarker, etc.

One popular item with those who want to remember the deceased is a solarlamp that is enabled for insertion into the ground adjacent to the gravemarker. This solar lamp stores up energy during the day and provides alight during the night that illuminates the grave marker.

While memorials such as the solar lamp meet the needs of the bereaved toremember the deceased, cemetery maintenance staff, in order to maintainthe grounds, must pick up or pull out from the ground any suchmemorials, then place them back in their original position. This is atime consuming process and significantly impacts the efficiency of themaintenance staff. This has resulted in an increasing number of cemeterymanagement posting signs forbidding the placement of any memorial in thearea surrounding the tombstone. Only items place directly on thememorial are allowed, such as a flower vase, with the integrated flowervase being preferred by cemetery management.

An example of a grave marker including such a flower vase is found inU.S. Pat. No. 3,312,014, issued to Pfister, which pertains to theprovision of a grave marker comprising a burial plaque provided with anopening wherein a vase can be secured.

Examples of attempts to have additional memorials at the grave siteinclude the following.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,855, issued to Salamh, pertains to a cemetery vaseto hold flowers at a grave site, with the cemetery vase being enabledfor insertion into the ground. The apparatus is a cemetery vaseconstructed as a container with a spike protruding from a hole in thebottom to permit the spike to be forced into the ground for support. Thecontainer is plastic, the spike has circumferential serrations tomechanically lock it in place, and no adhesive is required for assembly.The container is formed with surface ribs adjacent to the hole tostrengthen the structure to prevent damage by insertion of the spike,and the container also has internal fins to grip a foam plug which canhold the flowers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,170, issued to Plamp, pertains to a solar poweredilluminated cross-shaped memorial which has a controller whichilluminates monument with number of star-like light sources when ambientlight falls below threshold level, for set period as determined by atimer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,054, issued to Rogers, pertains to a memorial lightassembly used for video display monitor, which has a pair of candleassemblies provided with light source and housing to which batterysource is accommodated for supplying power to light source.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,911, issued to Sittner, pertains to a grave markerand lighting apparatus, has photovoltaic cell and photoconductive cellto charge the batteries in the marker box and signals electroniccircuitry to turn on during night.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,202, issued to Herring, pertains to an illuminatorfor illuminating a tombstone. It has a solar collector attached to thehousing and a photocell light detector attached to rear of the enclosureto measure the amount of ambient light

U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,465, issued to Little, pertains to a mountingassembly for an illuminated cemetery headstone. It has a lower bracketassembly which cooperates with the back panel so that the lower portionof the back panel and the vertical portion of the lower bracket assemblyoverlap the upper portion of the headstone.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose an assemblythat can be attached to grave marking memorial infrastructure, whileproviding options for illuminated or non-illuminated ornaments, as wellas combinations of illuminated and non-illuminated ornaments.

Also, while these and other approaches are a good start, improvementsare needed to address the problem of utilizing grave marking memorialinfrastructure to provide a memorial solution that permits cemeterymaintenance staff to efficiently maintain the cemetery grounds.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide thebereaved options for grave marking remembrances to remember thedeceased. It is a further object of the present invention to provideoptions for grave marking remembrances that do not interfere withcemetery maintenance activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and other objects were achieved, and theabove-mentioned disadvantages overcome, by the present invention, byproviding an assembly designed to be attached to a container that issecured to a cemetery memorial. This assembly is enabled to provide bothilluminated and non-illuminated memorials.

In general the memorial assembly is attached to a memorial flower vasethat is securely attached to a conventional vase engaging cemeterymarker. The general design is for the memorial assembly to be comprisedof attaching means for removably attaching the memorial assembly to amemorial flower vase, e.g. a clamp. The memorial assembly is furthercomprised of means for supporting at least one ornamentation device,e.g. clamp support, rod, pole, connector, and device holder. Thememorial assembly is further comprised of at least one ornament e.g., anillumination device, a wind-chime, and the like. The illumination devicee.g., a solar lamp, is further comprised of illumination infrastructurecontaining a source of illumination, a source of power, sensors andcircuitry, all operably connected to provide illumination of a cemeterymarker during periods of darkness.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means ofinstrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of theinvention according to the best modes so far devised for the practicalapplication of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a cemetery marker with a recess intowhich a flower vase may be secured.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cemetery marker with a flower vaseattached.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional perspective view of a solar lamp of the typenormally inserted into the ground.

FIG. 4 shows a right side view according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a back perspective view according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 shows a right side perspective view according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of a clamp according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a 3-way splitter according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings show aspects of the invention. As the drawings aredescribed, reference will be made to the present preferred embodimentsof the invention. The terminology used herein to describe the presentpreferred embodiments is for the purpose of clarification. Theinvention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specificterminology used. Terminology used to describe each element should beunderstood to include all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner to accomplish similar functions.

The present invention is described in relation to a memorial gravemarker. Nonetheless, the characteristics and parameters pertaining tovarious embodiments the apparatus and methods described herein may beapplicable to other objects.

Referring to FIG. 1, grave marker 120, is shown with vase receptacle130.

Referring to FIG. 2, grave marker 120 is shown with memorial vase 110securely attached to grave marker 120 via vase receptacle 130.

Referring to FIG. 3, solar light ornament 90 is shown as part of aconventional solar light assembly enabled for insertion into the ground.

Referring to FIG. 4, one arrangement of clamp 10, offset rod 30,ornament-pole connector 50, ornament pole 60, ornament hook 70, andsolar light ornament 90 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 5, one arrangement of clamp 10, offset rod 30,ornament-pole splitter 40, three of ornament pole, 60 and three ofornament hook 70 are shown.

Referring to FIG. 6, three of ornament eye-bolt 80 are shown.

Referring to FIG. 7, two of non-solar ornament 100 are shown, as well asa solar ornament 90.

Referring to FIG. 8, pole connector 50 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 9, clamp 10 is shown, with four of vase flange 10Adisposed on clamp 10. Additionally, clamp-offset connector 20 is shownoperably affixed to clamp 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, a threaded embodiment of ornament-pole splitter 40is shown.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, pole connector50, ornament pole 60, ornament hook 70, and solar light ornament 90.

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is generallycomprised of clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30,ornament-pole splitter 40, three of ornament pole 60, three of ornamenthook 70, and three of solar light ornament 90.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, pole connector50, ornament pole 60 and ornament hook 70.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof vase 110, clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, poleconnector 50, ornament pole 60 and ornament hook 70.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof grave marker 120, vase receptacle 130, vase 110, clamp 10,clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, pole connector 50, ornamentpole 60 and ornament hook 70.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, ornament-polesplitter 40, a plurality of ornament pole 60, and a plurality ofornament hook 70.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, ornament-polesplitter 40, a plurality of ornament pole 60, a plurality of ornamenthook 70, at least one of solar light ornament 90 and at least one ofnon-solar light ornament 100, e.g. wind chimes.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof vase 110, clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30,ornament-pole splitter 40, a plurality of ornament pole 60, a pluralityof ornament hook 70, and a plurality of solar light ornament 90.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof vase 110, clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30,ornament-pole splitter 40, a plurality of ornament pole 60, a pluralityof ornament hook 70, and a plurality of non-solar light ornament 100.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof vase 110, clamp 10, clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30,ornament-pole splitter 40, a plurality of ornament pole 60, a pluralityof ornament hook 70, at least one of solar light ornament 90, and atleast one of non-solar light ornament 100.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof grave marker 120, vase receptacle 130, vase 110, clamp 10,clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, ornament-pole splitter 40, aplurality of ornament pole 60, a plurality of ornament hook 70, and aplurality of solar light ornament 90.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof grave marker 120, vase receptacle 130, vase 110, clamp 10,clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, ornament-pole splitter 40, aplurality of ornament pole 60, a plurality of ornament hook 70, and aplurality of non-solar light ornament 100.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprisedof grave marker 120, vase receptacle 130, memorial vase 110, clamp 10,clamp-offset connector 20, offset rod 30, ornament-pole splitter 40, aplurality of ornament pole 60, a plurality of ornament hook 70, at leastone of solar light ornament 90, and at least one of non-solar lightornament 100.

The preferred material for clamp 10 is brass or any suitable material,metal or non-metal, possessing sufficient structural strength to holdany of the embodiments of the present invention. The preferred thicknessof clamp 10 is approximately 8 gauge. The preferred inside diameter ofclamp 10 is between 3⅝″ and 3¾″. The preferred color is bronze. In orderfor clamp 10 to properly seat clamp 10 to memorial vase 110, it ispreferred to have at least three of flange 10A as a part of clamp 10. Itis preferred that clamp 10 have a ½″ wing nut assembly permanentlyaffixed to the tongue of clamp 10 so that the wing nut assembly enablesthe tightening of clamp 10 to memorial vase 110. The preferredadjustment in the diameter of clamp 10 that is accomplished bytightening the ½″ wing nut assembly is at least ¼″.

The preferred material for offset rod 30, ornament pole 60, poleconnector 50, ornament pole splitter 40 is aluminum alloy having abronze color. The preferred diameter for offset rod 30 is ⅜″ diameterand the preferred connecting means to clamp offset connector 20, poleconnector 50 or ornament splitter 40 is a threaded connection. Thepreferred diameter for ornament pole 60 is ⅜″ and the preferredconnecting means to pole connector 50 or ornament splitter 40 is athreaded connection.

While the materials listed are preferred, other materials may be used,such as plastic, wood, and the like. Similarly, while threadedconnections are preferred, other commercially available connection meansmay be used, such as, but not limited to, spring-loaded depressiblebuttons on ornament pole 60 and offset rod 30 and corresponding holesinto which the buttons are secured in pole connector 50. Also, whileoffset rod 30 and ornament pole 60 are illustrated as beingnon-telescoping, telescoping rods and poles may be used with means forkeeping the rods and poles at the length desired. Additionally, thedesigns on the window panes of solar light ornament 90 may vary, e.g.,crosses, stars, hearts, angels, and the like.

-   -   a. Place clamp 10 around the top of memorial vase 110 with wing        nuts turned to the back of memorial vase 110.    -   b. Tighten wing nut securely.    -   c. Thread the offset connector end of offset rod 30 into clamp        offset connector 20 such that the offset portion faces the rear        of grave marker 120 and secure offset rod 30 with clamp offset        connector nut 20A.    -   d. Thread pole connector 50 into the pole connector end of        offset rod 30.    -   e. Thread the pole connector end of ornament pole 60 into pole        connector 50.    -   f. Thread ornament hook 70 into the ornament end of ornament        pole 60.    -   g. Attach solar light ornament 90 to ornament hook 70

To make another embodiment of the present invention for a grave markerhaving a memorial vase:

-   -   a. Place clamp 10 around the top of memorial vase 110 with wing        nuts turned to the back of memorial vase 110.    -   b. Tighten wing nuts securely.    -   c. Thread the offset connector end of offset rod 30 into clamp        offset connector 20 such that the offset portion faces the rear        of grave marker 120 and secure offset rod 30 with clamp offset        connector nut 20A.    -   d. Thread ornament pole splitter 40 into the pole connector end        of offset rod 30.    -   e. Thread the pole connector end of three of ornament pole 60        into each opening of ornament pole splitter 40.    -   f. Thread ornament hook 70 into the ornament end of ornament        pole 60.    -   g. Attach solar light ornament 90 to ornament hook 70.

A process for making a monument assembly is comprised of the followingsteps:

-   -   a) form a clamp operable for releasable attachment to a memorial        vase and to an offset rod;    -   b) form an offset rod operable for releasable attachment to said        clamp and to a connector;    -   c) form said connector, operable for releasable attachment to        said offset rod and to pole; and,    -   d) form at least one of said pole operable for releasable        attachment to said connector.

The above description and drawings are only illustrative of preferredembodiments which achieve the objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, and it is not intended that the present invention belimited thereto. Any modification of the present invention which comeswithin the spirit and scope of the following claims is considered partof the present invention.

Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thespecification and examples should be considered exemplary only.

1) A monument assembly, wherein said monument assembly is comprised of:a) a grave marker; b) a memorial vase; c) an ornament system; d) meansfor releasable attachment of said memorial vase to said grave marker e)means for releasable attachment of said ornament system to said memorialvase. 2) The monument assembly of claim 1, wherein said ornament systemis further comprised of: a) a clamp, wherein said clamp is furthercomprised of flanges disposed on the inside diameter of said clamp tooperably engage said memorial vase, a wing nut assembly for reducing theinside diameter of said clamp, an offset connector disposed adjacent tosaid wing nut assembly on the distal side of said wing nut assembly,wherein said clamp offset connector is permanently affixed to saidclamp; b) an offset rod operable for releasable attachment to saidoffset connector; c) at least one pole; d) means for releasableattachment of said offset rod to at least one pole; e) at least oneornament; and, f) means for releasable attachment of said at least oneornament to said at least one pole. 3) The monument assembly of claim 2,wherein said ornament is a wind chime. 4) The monument assembly of claim2, wherein said ornament is a solar light. 5) The monument assembly ofclaim 4 wherein decorative windows are disposed on said solar light. 6)A monument assembly, wherein said monument assembly is comprised of: a)an ornament system; b) means for releasable attachment of said memorialvase to said grave marker c) means for releasable attachment of saidornament system to said memorial vase. 7) The monument assembly of claim6, wherein said ornament system is further comprised of: a) a clamp,wherein said clamp is further comprised of flanges disposed on theinside diameter of said clamp to operably engage said memorial vase, awing nut assembly for reducing the inside diameter of said clamp, anoffset connector disposed adjacent to said wing nut assembly on thedistal side of said wing nut assembly, wherein said clamp offsetconnector is permanently affixed to said clamp; b) an offset rod with anoffset rod first threaded end and an offset rod second threaded endwherein said offset rod first threaded end is operable for releasableattachment to said offset connector; c) at least one pole with a polefirst threaded end and a pole second threaded end; d) a threadedconnector operable for releasable attachment of said offset rod secondthreaded end to said pole first threaded end; e) at least one ornament;and, f) at least one hook operable for releasable attachment to saidpole second threaded end and operable for releasable attachment to atleast one ornament. 8) The monument assembly of claim 7, wherein saidornament is a wind chime. 9) The monument assembly of claim 7, whereinsaid ornament is a solar light. 10) The monument assembly of claim 8wherein said solar light has decorative windows. 11) A process formaking a monument assembly comprising the steps of a) forming a clampoperable for releasable attachment to a memorial vase and to an offsetrod; b) forming an offset rod operable for releasable attachment to saidclamp and to a connector; c) forming said connector, operable forreleasable attachment to said offset rod and to pole; and, d) forming atleast one of said pole operable for releasable attachment to saidconnector.